Beehive.



G. BAC-HMANN.

BEEHIVE.

APPLICATION FILED MAR.2S,1914.

1,103,468. Pa ented July 14, 1914.

3 SHEETS-SHEET 1.

a IF

v A; t I 31 e] INVENTOR WITNESSES: N

0. EACH MANN.

BEEHIVE.

C. BAGHMANN.

BEEHIVE.

APPLICATION FILED MAR. 23, 1014.

1,103,468. Patented July 14, 1914.

3 SHEETS-SHEET 3.

INVENTOR wvrmcssms: 4 0) GHRISTOF BACI-IMANN, 0F BAGBY, CALIFORNIA.

BEEI-IIVE.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented July 14, 1914.

Application filed March 23, 1914. Serial No. 826,520.

a citizen of the United States, residing at Bagby, in the county ofMariposa and State of California, have invented new and usefulImprovements in Beehives, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to beehives.

It is an object of the present invention to provide a substantial,sectionally constructed beehive, with its several parts so designed asto cooperate, when adjusted in different combined positions, to afford apracticable and safe beehive both for summer and for winter use.

It is a further object of the invention to provide a beehive structurecomprising main box or chamber sections which are readily reversible andare provided with removable keys upon which the comb-section holdingframes are supported, when mounted in the chambers, and which may bepartially or entirely withdrawn for the ready removal of any of thesection holders, as desired,

without disturbing other holders.

It is also an important object of the pres ent invention to provide anovel closure or gate for beehives, which is so designed as to beadjusted in diverse positions with relation to the inlet opening of thebeehive, so that very accurate control of egress from and ingress to thebeehive may be had, this gate being so designed as to provide thedesired regulation.

Another object of the invention is to provide a floor, in combinationwith the beehive chambers, which is reversible end for end and side forside, the ends being designed to provide for ingress to and egress fromthe beehive, and being further provided with feed stalls on one sidewhich may be utilized, as required, for supplying the bees with food byso adjusting the bottom that the feed stalls will open upwardly into thebeehive.

The invention consists of the parts and the construction and combinationof parts as hereinafter more fully described and claimed, havingreference to the accompanying drawings, in which- Sheet No. 1.Figure 1is a longitudinal vertical section through the beehive. Fig.

2 is an end view of one of the comb-section holders. Fig. 8 is aperspective view of the reversible gate. Fig. 4: shows the gate adjustedas a closure over the entrance of the beehive. Fig. 5 shows the gateadjusted as a blind over the beehive. Fig. 6 shows the gate adjustedover the entrance of the beehive to' reduce the entrance area.

Sheet N 0. 2.Fig. 7 is a plan view of the beehive, with the top removedand showing the brood chamber frames in plan and a portion of the honeychamber holders in plan. Fig. 8 is a detail of one end of the beehive,showing a key partly withdrawn. Fig. 9 is a detail of a corner of thebeehive, showing the pressure device for holding the beehive framessteady.

Sheet No. 3.Fig. 10 is a longitudinal vertical section through thebeehive, showing the bottom adjusted for feeding position. Fig. 11 is aplan view of one end of the feed trough. Fig. 12 is a perspective viewof one of the battle partitions.

The present beehive is composed of a multiplicity of superposed box-likesections 2 and 3, of suitable proportions and size, open at the top andbottom and being adjustable in vertical alinement upon a bottom 4 whichmay be positioned as desired in actual use in the field. The bottom 4 isshown as being longer and wider than the beehive boxes 23; thelongitudinally projecting edges being beveled, as at 55, to shed water.The forward portion of the bottom 4 is provided with mortised grooves 6,in the forwardly projecting ends 7, Fig. 8, which projecting ends 7 areprovided with vertical slots 9, into which may be adjusted in one or anyof several positions a gate 10 for a purpose which will be hereinafterdescribed.

The inner surfaces of the end walls of the beehive boxes 28 aretransversely grooved or mortised, as at 11, to receive removable keys 12sufiiciently spaced apart to support independent beehive frames 13, onthe outer side of the ends of which are provided lugs 14 adapted to restupon and between the keys 12 at each end of the hive mounted, invertical order, a suitable number of rectangular frames 13, thelongitudinal and end edges of which are chamfered,

as at 15, so that when the frames 13 are 'abutted at their corners,passageways 16 (Fig. 7 are formed through which the bees may pass toother portions of the beehive. The sections 23, as before stated, are reversible end forend and. side for side, and

employed which consists of .a plunger 17 reacted upon bya spring 18 toforce the.

several frames 13 into snug engagement. In this figure there is shown indetail a latch structure consisting of a plate 19 hinged at 20, whichplate is adapted to? swing over the pressure device 18 and alsoover theouter ends of the keys 12 of the. beehive box section2. The latch 19 isprovided with a resilient arm 21, the free end of which bears upon ashoulder 22, ad acentto the pivot 20, and which operates to hold thelatch 19 either in the closed position (Fig. 9) or in the open positionshown in Fig. 8 when it is desired to remove any of the keys seats 11. v

The upper hive boX or section 3 is similar to the lower section, asbefore stated. In this upper section there is removably mounted upon thekeys 12 a holder 25 which comprises a rectangular frame with a removableside member 26. The member 26 is provided with suitable fastening hooksor de- 12 from the mortise slots or vices 27, at the ends, whereby theremovable side 26 is securely and readily attached to or removed fro-1nthe complementary por-, tion of the holder frame 25. Within the holder25 may be adjustedsuitable comb frames 28 in which the bees will storehoney; these frames being readily removed,

without the immediate application of any tools, by simply unfasteningthe locks 27 and releasing the side 26 from the holder 25,

which latter is provided, at the ends with lugs 14 for support upon thekeys 12.

The beehive may be covered at its top with a removable cover 29, whichmay be shifted transversely thereon, for providing;

for ventilation and access to the hive, or. may be entirely removed. Inorder to prevent the bees from building the honey-comb so that it willproject beyond the side planes of the comb-frames 28, it is desirable toprovide a bafile, stop or partition which will so confine the bees intheir operations as to limit their range of operation duringthehoney-comb building. In this instance there isshown in Fig. 12 apartition or stop,

the bees to pass'therebetween; the slats 30 being secured at their endsin suitable stiles 32, of such thickness on each side of the slats. 30 ato provide vertical passageways in which the bees may move during theconstruction of the comb in the comb-frames. The ends of the partitionstiles 32 are pro- .vided with lugs 33 for adjustment upon and betweenthe keys 12 in the end walls of the bomb box frames. The lateral spacingof the stop partitions v3O i clearly shown in One of theimportantfeatures of the pres ent invention is the provision of asimple, practicable, easily and quickly adjustable gate affording meansfor regulating and preventing the ingress and egress of bees from thehive. This means consists in combination with the bottom 4, of a gate10,

which is shown in 'Fig. 3 as comprising a,

opening 36 ofa width'about onehalf the length of the block 10. Thecut-away portion 36 communicateswit-h a chamber portion 37 of theblockwhich opens with a mouth .38 of approximately one-third the vlength of the body of the block and on the opposite v edge thereof fromthe. depression or entrance notch36. Longitudinally slidablein the bodyof the block is a pin or stopper 39, mounted in a chamber 40 there for,and by means of whichpin the passageway through the chamber 37 and mouth38 may be carefully controlled as conditions require; thepin beingadjustable toward one wall of the passageway 37, when necessary, so thatonly one bee at a time could find passageway therethrough. i

As stated, hegate 10 is adjustable in diverse positions in the receivingslots 6 and 9, and in the drawings these positions,

are severally shown. In Fig. 1 the gate -10 is adjustable with itstenons 35 inthe horizontal slots 6 and is pushed therein against theadjacent portion ofthe floor or bottom 4, which is chambered or cut-awayto provide a mouth portion 4 beneath the edge of the lower'hive box, 2.The gate 10 is uppermost and provides an entrance-way of adjusted withits fiat unencumbered edge boxes so as to present upwardly a shallowvwhich position the chamber part 37 of the block is lowermost.

In Fig. 4 the gate 10 is adjusted with its fiat surface vertical andwith the chamber 37 disposed as a closure over the mouth4 of the bottom4 effectually cutting out ingress to and egress from the hive.

In Fig. 5 the gate 10 is shown in the same vertical position butelevated somewhat so as to act as a blind and wind shield to cut out thedirect or reflected light rays from the entrance mouth 4 of the beehive.

In this view there are shown clearly pins 10, of which there is one ateach end 7 of the hive floor, which pins are used for locking the gate10 in any of its several positions.

In Fig. 6 the gate 10 is shown as adjust able in its horizontal positionwith the chamber 87. uppermost and with the mouth 38 of the gatecoincident with the entrance 4 of the beehive floor 4. WVhen in thisposition it is manifest the ingress and egress passageway of the hive isdetermined by the area of the mouth 38; this latter being furtherreduced in size, as may be required, by transversely shifting thethrottle or stopper 39 as weather or other conditions may require.

The hive bottom 4 is shown in Fig. 1 as provided at one end with theentrance-way 4 and at the opposite end with a cut-away portion 41inclined downwardly and outwardly and closable by a shutter 42 which isprovided with a spring or snap lock 48 and hinged at 44 to the end ofthe floor 4. The upper portion of the opening 41, which extendstransversely across the end of "the floor, may be covered by a slidable,removable ventilator 45 through which a circulation of air is providedwhen the shutter 43 is. turned to open position parallel with the lengthof the bottom 4.

As shown in Fig. 10 the bottom 4 may be reversed in its position beneaththe hive trough 46 extending approximately the length of the bottom andwhich is divided into a number of parallel stalls 47 by a plurality ofparallel ribs 48, each of which is notched at 49 to permit thetransverse flow of such food as may be supplied to the trough 46 throughan opening at the end of the floor 4 when a plug or block 50 therein isremoved. Thus all the ribs 48 which terminate adjacent to the chargingopening closed by the block 50 are provided with sharpened ends 51, sothat the food charged into the trough may divide into several streams tofill the stall chambers 47. If itbe desired to charge only a few of thestalls, then the quantity of material supplied would be preferablylimited to the capacity of the desired number of stalls at such depth asto prevent the transverse overflow at the equalizing notches 49, throughwhich notches the food would flow at any time that the quantity of foodis of sufficient quantity as to exceed the height of the bottom of thenotches.

In Fig. 10 the ventilator 45 is shown as arranged over the entrance-wayat one end of the hive and the gate 10 so adjusted that a restrictedingress is provided. Adjusted below an aperture 52 in the floor 4 is atrap screen 53 through which robber bees ranged at the sides of the hivewalls, serve to produce ventilating space all around.

The cover or top can be removed and turned end for end and fits snuglyupon the hive sections which arethemselves reversible.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim and desire to secure byLetters Patent is 1. In a beehive, hive chambers open at the top andbottom, a cover, a bottom, said chambers being reversible end for endand side for side, removable, independent hive frames, and removablesupports in said chambers for supporting and locking said frames in thehive chambers.

2. In a beehive, hive chambers open at the top and bottom, a cover, abottom, said chambers being reversible end for end and side for side,removable, independent hive frames, and removable supports in saidchambers for supporting and locking said frames in the hive chambers,said supports providing for the removal of any of the frames in theirrespective chambers.

8. In a beehive, hive chambers open at the top and bottom, a cover, abottom, said chambers being reversible end for end and side for side,removable, independent hive frames, removable supports in said chambersfor supporting and locking said frames in the hive chambers, saidsupports providing for the removal of any of the frames in theirrespective chambers, and a device for holding the inserted frames incompact position upon the supports.

4. In a beehive, hive chambers open at the top and bottom, a cover, abottom, said chambers being reversible end for end and side for side,removable, independent hive frames, removable supports in said chambersfor supporting and locking said frames in the hive chambers, saidsupports providing for the removal of any of the frames ining'the-inserted frames in compact position uponthe supports, and aspring latch operating to hold the removable supports 1n' position inthe hive frames. 7

-5. In a beehive, hive chambers open at the top and bottom, a cover, abottom, said chambers-being reversible end for end and side for side,removable," independent hive frames, removable supports insaid chambersfor supportlng and locking said'frames in the hive chambers, saidsupports provid-' ingfor the removal of any of the frames in theirrespective chambers, a device for holding the inserted frames in compactposition upon the supports, and'a'spring latch operatingto hold theremovable supports in sition-in the hive frames, said spring latch;having a resilient arm engaging a comple, mentary part-on the hiveframes so that the latch will remain closed position.

6. A' sectionfor beehives comprising boxcham'ber open at the top andbottom and having parallel mortises' on the inner faces of its endwalls, honey frames withlugs at steady open or a their ends, and keysslidably adjustable in said mortises for supporting and vfor look ingthe honey frames in a suspended position in said chamber and forpermitting the removal of any of said frames irrespective of thepositions of the others.

7; In a beehive, the combination with the beehive chamber of areversible floor havin on one side a feeding trough divided into aplurality of longitudinally extending stalls,- the walls of said stallsbeing notched for the transverse distribution or flowage of food chargedinto the trough.

11. The combination with a beehive, of afloor provided at one end withan entrance-way beneath the superposed edge of the beehive chamber andat the opposite end with a ventilating aperture, and screenlikeventilator thereover and communicating with the beehive chamber, and ashutter covering the ventilating aperture.

The combination with a beehive, of a floor provided at one end with anentrance- W'ay" beneath the superposed edge of the mass 13; Thecombination with a beehive, of a ifioor provided at one end with anentranceway beneath the superposed edge of the beehive chamber, theprojecting end of the floor ibeing provided with opposite vertical andhorizontal mortises, and a gate removably adjustable in said mortise'sfor controlling ,Lingress to and egress from'the hive.

14:. The combinationwvith a beehive, of a floor provided at oneend withan entranceway beneath the superposed edge of the beehive'cham'ber, theprojecting end of the floor being provided with opposite vertical andhorizontal mortises, and a gate removably {adjustable in said mortisesfor controlling, ingress to and egress from the hive, said gate having aconstricted mouth adjustable over the entrance-way. Y

15. The combination with a beehive, of a Ffloor provided at one end withan entrance- Way beneath the superposed edge of the bee- ;hive chamber,the projecting end of the floor being provided with opposite verticaland horizontal mortises, a gate removably ad justable in said mortisesfor controlling ingres's to and egress from the hive, said gate having aconstricted mouth adjustable over :the entrance-Way, and a member on thegate for reducing the area of said mouth.

' 16. The combination with a beehive structure provided with gatereceiving means and a gate so designed as to provide, when adf justedover the entrance of the beehive, a large sized entrance aperture forsummer use or a constricted aperture for Winter use or for a'shieldand'blind. v

17 The combination in a beehive, of the beehive chamber, a plurality ofcomb-section receivers or holders, and means for laterally spacing saidholders and acting as barriers against the action of bees in theholders, and providing'for transverse movement from holder to holder andvertical movement along the sides of the holder and the adjacentsurfaces of the honeycombs as erected. I c

18. The-combination in a beehive, of the beehive chamber, a plurality ofcomb-section receivers or holders, and means for laterally spacingsaidholders and acting as barriers against the action of bees in theholders, and providing for transverse move ment from holder to holderand vertical movement along the side's of the holder and the adjacentsurfaces of the honey-combs as erected, said means .comprisingpartitions with parallel, spaced slats. i

19. The combination in a beehive, of the beehive chamber, a pluralityofcomb-section receivers or holders, and means for laterally spacingsaid holders and acting as barriers against the action of bees in theholders, and providing for transverse movement from holder to holder andvertical movement along the sides of the holder and iit' the adjacentsurfaces of the honey-combs as my hand in the presence of tWosubscribing erected, said means comprising partitions Witnesses. Withparallel spaced slats, and having end CHRISTOF BACHMANN. stile memberswith lugs adjustable between Witnesses:

5 and upon supports in the hive chambers.

In testimony whereof I have hereunto set JOHN A. WALL, R. L. PAINE.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressingthe Commissioner of Patents, Washington, D. G."

